"Dungeon"

Orario, the Labyrinth City, Northwest Main Street.

This is a street that is wider than the other seven main streets in Orario.

Because this street always has the largest flow of people, and they are mostly adventurers.

Northwest Main Street, also known as Adventurer's Street, is home to numerous shops and stalls, most of which are closely related to people in the adventurer profession.

Weapon shops, item shops, hotels, and other shops essential for adventurers line the streets. Even some alleyways and back alleys are filled with old and eerie shops that, while seemingly suspicious, are actually businesses related to adventurers.

This is because the Dungeon's governing body—the Adventurers' Guild—is located here.

The Adventurers' Guild is both the management organization of the Dungeon and the administrator of the city of Orario. It is fully responsible for matters related to the Dungeon, the familia established by the gods, the city's public order, and economic development. In other words, it is the official organization of Orario.

Exploring Dungeon in Orario requires everyone to go through various procedures and receive assistance from the guild. To become an adventurer, one must register with the guild. Each clan is even obligated to provide the guild with information about its members, such as their levels. Failure to do so will be considered a violation and subject to guild action, ranging from fines to mandatory quests. This demonstrates the immense power the guild wields in this city.

The guild also stipulated that adventurers must sell the Magic Stone they obtain from defeating monsters to them, which is why all adventurers frequently visit the guild.

Under such circumstances, this Northwest Main Street, where the guild headquarters is located, naturally sees many adventurers. Many shops that cater to adventurers naturally choose to open here, making it an exclusive street for adventurers. The name "Adventurer's Street" is truly fitting.

It was just past eight in the morning, a time when many adventurers would be heading to the Dungeon, so the main road was full of adventurers preparing to explore the labyrinth.

Orcs carrying greatswords walked into the weapon shop, Amazon warriors bustled in and out of the item shop, and many supporters with backpacks followed behind the adventurers, creating an incredibly lively scene.

Leo also appeared here, carrying a small straight sword and a small shield, with two small bags on his waist, making him extremely inconspicuous among these adventurers with their various equipment.

He brushed past a group of adventurers clad in heavy armor as he arrived at the guild headquarters located beside the main street.

It was a temple built with white pillars, its appearance could only be described as solemn. In front of its gate was a wide courtyard with a monument, where many adventurers could be seen coming and going, forming a larger crowd than in other places.

" Pantheon ----"

Leo looked at the temple-like building, which was called that, and after a while, he stepped inside.

If he wants to enter the Dungeon, he needs to register as an adventurer with the guild.

The guild that is in charge of operating Orario is fully responsible for the management of the Dungeon and related affairs. In addition to adventurers who have gained a certain status and rights, who register here, people also need to register to become residents of Orario.

In addition, in order to develop the city by utilizing the profits recovered from the dungeon, the guild will actively share all kinds of knowledge and information about the Dungeon with adventurers, and will also provide assistance in exploration. Therefore, visiting the guild is essential when conquering the Dungeon.

Upon entering the guild headquarters, the Temple of Ten Thousand, Leo was immediately struck by a vast hall large enough to accommodate a large number of adventurers.

A notice board was set up on one side of the hall, as well as a gold exchange for Magic Stone. The most numerous were the counters where guild staff sat, and many adventurers would go up to ask questions, especially in front of some beautiful elven female staff, where a long queue of adventurers would form.

The elves are a race known for producing handsome men and beautiful women, and when Leo first came to this world, he was also attracted by the beautiful elves.

Elves are a naturally magical race; everyone born into the elven race possesses magical abilities.

Thanks to this, elves are welcomed by almost every familia. It can be said that any elf who comes to Orario will be courted and warmly invited by various familias. Even the Loki Familia rarely refuses an elf to join them, even if the other party is a complete newbie like Leo who has not yet acquired any stats.

Rather, it's because a certain Chief God's favorite thing is beautiful women, so Loki Familia is full of beautiful elves. Even Riveria, an elven royalty, is in this Familia, which shows how many elves join Loki Familia.

Over the past year, Leo has seen all sorts of beautiful girls, including naturally beautiful elves and goddess-like beauties like Ais, which has greatly increased his resistance to beautiful women.

So, ignoring the long lines of beautiful elven employees at their counters, Leo went to the counter of a human female employee.

There was a queue here too, but not many people. Leo waited for about five minutes before it was his turn.

Hello, how can I help you?

The guild staff member asked in a sweet voice and with a smile.

"I want to become an adventurer, please register me."

Leo calmly stated his demands.

"OK."

The other party was clearly used to handling this business; while maintaining a smile, they took out parchment and a quill pen and began registering Leo.

What is your name?

Leo Eligos.

"Age?"

Sixteen years old.

Leo answered the question without changing his expression.

He was certainly older than that, but his physical age had indeed shrunk to fifteen after he transmigrated. This was the bone age that Grandpa Gareth determined by examining his bones. Loki also noticed that his physical age was only fifteen. The observational abilities of a god are beyond question, so it was not a lie for him to say this age. Even if he said it in front of a god, the other party would not know that he was lying.

The female guild employee did not suspect this and continued to inquire.

"Grade?"

"Lv.1."

In the exchange of questions and answers, the other party quickly wrote down Leo's relevant information without asking about his gender, which pleased Leo somewhat.

When Leo was handling business in another world, he encountered employees who solemnly asked him his gender. The formulaic process sometimes made him wonder if he really looked so effeminate that they couldn't even tell if he was male or female.

In this respect, the guild staff are very perceptive. They don't adhere to formulaic procedures but strive to improve efficiency and avoid wasting anyone's time.

Then, the other party asked the crucial question.

"What kind of clan do you belong to?"

Leo paused slightly upon hearing the question.

Immediately, he spoke without any expression.

" Loki Familia."

Upon hearing this, the female staff member of the guild suddenly raised her head.

" Loki Familia? You're from the Loki Familia?"

The professional smile on the female employee's face vanished, replaced by deep surprise.

Her voice involuntarily rose a little, attracting the attention of the teller next to her and the adventurers who were processing their business.

"----Please don't make a fuss, okay?"

Leo spoke with a hint of helplessness.

"I'm so sorry!" The female employee realized her mistake and quickly bowed to thank her, saying, "I... I didn't realize you were from the Loki Familia, I'm so sorry!"

It wasn't just the female employees; people nearby who noticed the commotion also started chattering.

"Is he a newcomer from the Loki Familia?"

"Judging from his gear, he must be a complete newcomer, right?"

"When did the Loki Familia start recruiting complete newbies again?"

We need to send someone to inquire about it.

Unsurprisingly, Leo became the focus.

In Orario, or rather, in this world, the words "Loki Familia" possess such power.

The city's premier clan, one of the strongest clans, and one of the two kings, members of this clan are always the center of attention wherever they go.

This is also what makes Leo feel helpless.

But Leo didn't show it, continuing the registration process without changing his expression until it was finished. Only after officially becoming an adventurer did he leave the Pantheon amidst the gazes of many.

"Finally, the preliminary work is done."

Leo exhaled and turned his gaze toward the city center.

There, a white-walled skyscraper that reaches straight into the sky quietly exudes an astonishing presence and a sense of oppression, drawing all eyes.

Let's go.

Leo watched for a while before walking along the main street toward the towering tower.

This walk took almost an hour.

An hour later, Leo successfully arrived at the vast city center, at the huge plaza where the chalk tower was located.

Here, even more people gather than on Adventurer's Street.

Numerous fully armed adventurers either walked alone towards the chalk tower or entered in groups. Some had serious expressions, as if they were about to head to a brutal battlefield, while others were excited, as if they were about to search for treasure, showcasing the myriad aspects of life.

That's only natural.

After all, beneath that chalk tower lies one of the world's three great secret realms, the source of the ferocious monsters scattered across the entire continent— the Dungeon.

Orario, the Labyrinth City, is a fortified city built around this labyrinth. Its original purpose was to defend against the monsters that constantly poured out of the Dungeon, and the chalk tower is the Babel Tower, a skyscraper that serves as the lid of the Dungeon.

Leo followed the crowd into the Babel Tower and arrived at a circular space.

The place is unusually spacious, easily accommodating thousands of people. The overall decoration is temple-like, exuding a noble style, much like an altar for offering sacrifices to the gods.

The spacious circular space is based on blue and white, with black stone tablets inscribed with the names of many adventurers scattered around it. Thick and long pillars are set at equal intervals, and the ceiling is an exquisite painting of the sky, as if one can see directly into the heavens.

However, the most eye-catching feature here is neither the black stone tablet engraved with the names of many adventurers, nor the exquisite sky painting on the ceiling, but a large hole in the center.

It was a large hole about ten meters in diameter, roughly cylindrical in shape, with huge spiral staircases on the walls that led downwards into the ground.

All the adventurers who came here were walking down this silver staircase. Leo followed the crowd down and finally arrived at an underground space with neatly arranged paths at regular intervals.

The walls and ceiling are painted light blue, and the roads extend in all directions, forming many visible forks, intersections, and gentle downhill slopes, making it a complete underground maze.

Standing at the entrance to this underground labyrinth, Leo was filled with mixed emotions.

This is the first floor of the Dungeon, the closest to the surface and the safest floor.

"It's been a year. I'm so glad to see this place again."

A year ago, Leo was brought to the surface from here by Ais.

Since then, Leo has never returned to the Dungeon.

Today, he finally visited this place again.

This time, no one will be clearing the way for me.

"No one will protect me this time either."

"I must make my own way here, fight here, and kill here."

Leo mentally prepared himself and quickly calmed down.

He started walking along one of the many forks in the road, gradually separating himself from the crowd, becoming more and more alone as he ventured deeper into the maze.

Once you get here, the adventurers you travel with are no longer just companions, but rivals, and possibly even enemies.

The number of monsters in the Dungeon is limited, and they only respawn periodically. As long as the goal of hunting monsters is to hunt them, it is inevitable that you will fall into a situation where you fight with each other. There is even a possibility that someone with malicious intent will suddenly rush out and steal your loot. It is impossible to defend against them.

Therefore, once you enter the Dungeon, unless you are people you trust, or members of the same party or clan, very few people will be willing to hang out together.

Leo deliberately distanced himself from the crowds and walked alone on the pale blue road.

Not long after, Leo stopped walking.

"Grumble----"

Ahead, a small figure emerged from the darkness, swaying as it appeared.

It has unusual skin, pointed ears and sharp teeth, a ferocious face, fierce eyes, and sharp claws on its hands.

That image is familiar to anyone who has watched isekai anime, and some people even hate it to the core.

" Goblin ----"

Leo murmured softly.

"Crunch!"

The small monster shrieked and immediately charged towards Leo.